One of the most dangerous stretches of A-road in England is set to have its speed limit reduced – more than 18 months after the proposal was first put forward.
Essex County Council (ECC) took a decision to approve the advertising of the order to implement a 30mph speed limit on the A104 Epping New Road on 17 December 2024, says Essex Live.
Councillor Mark Webster, cabinet member for highways at Essex County Council, is now set to sign off off the proposals to extend the existing 30mph speed limit which currently terminates just to the north of the junction between the A104 and Fernside northwards for approximately 1,000 metres to a point just north of the junction between the A104 and Rangers Road.
The A104 Epping New Road was identified in 2023 as one of the Department for Transport’s 50 most dangerous stretches of A-road in England. Excessive speed has been identified as the major contributor to the unsafe nature of the road and the council says its proposals have been designed to mitigate this.
The proposal forms one section of the wider scheme which stretches from the Wake Arms roundabout to the border between Essex and London Borough of Redbridge totalling approximately 6.1km.
The council says as well as cutting the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph new central hatching and the construction of a combination of central refuges and islands at the entrances to the forest car parks and at the junction with Manor Road will deter speeding and overtaking.
Average speed cameras are also set to be installed along the whole length of the route due to get safety improvements. The A104 Epping New Road is described as an important A-road linking Epping, Theydon Bois, the M25 (via Junction 26) and the M11 (via Junction 7) with Greater London.
Within Essex the road runs through Epping Forest, which is well used for leisure and recreation by people walking, cycling and equestrian users. The road has long straight sections; average vehicle speeds are close to the posted speed limits .
An ECC statement said:
“The intention behind the scheme is to provide a safer road environment for all road users navigating the A104 through Essex, with a more consistent and compliant road user speed throughout both the urban and rural environments and improved crossing facilities for non-motorised users.”
(Picture: Mapillary)
